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WINTER 2006 FRESHMAN SEMINARS
The School of Biological Sciences also offers freshman seminars during spring quarter. For more information, please visit http://freshmanseminars.bio.uci.edu/. Please note that students may take a maximum of three freshman seminars for credit, so long as subjects vary, over their entire university career. CLAIRE TREVOR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Murder! Stephen Barker, Drama W 11:00-11:50am, HH 251 Course Code 87585 The seminar will investigate the ethics of killing; is it all right to kill? Why? Why not? What does it all mean? Stephen Barker is a Professor of Drama. He earned his BA from Amherst College, his MFA in (Drama) Studio '68 of Theatre Arts, London; MFA (Dance) London School of Contemporary Dance; MFA (Creative Writing) University of Arizona; PhD (English Literature, Literary Theory and Criticism) University of Arizona. Formerly professional actor/director and dancer/choreographer. Has published extensively on Nietzsche, Derrida, Beckett, Blanchot, and others, as well as on critical and aesthetic theory. Books include Autoaesthetics: Strategies of the Self After Nietzsche; Excavations and Their Objects: Freud's Collection of Antiquity; Signs of Change: Premodern, Modern, Postmodern; Bodytheory; and Interrogating Images. He lives in Irvine and Provence with his wife Michelle, a clinical psychologist. Who is That Armani Guy and Where Did He come From? Madeline Kozlowski, Drama W 12:00-12:50pm, MAB 302 Course Code 87559 Almost 100 fashion designers like Georgio Armani, Emanuel Ungaro, and Marc Jacobs reflect our society and guide our clothing choices. Today's fashion designers are icons in their own right. Evryone knows their names...everyone wears their clothes or "rip offs" if you can't afford the original. How did the Haute Couture elite relinquish control of fashion to these "ordinary people"? Study with us and find out. Emmy Award winning Costume Designer Madeline Kozlowski is a member of The Costume Designer's Guild who works in television, film, video, arena, and live stage. Here at UCI she is head of Graduate Studies in Design in the Drama Department. Theatre/Mind: IS All the World a Stage? Anthony Kubiak, Drama M 1:00-1:50pm, TBA Course Code 87560 We will be looking at theatre as the manifestation of mind in the real world: how much of culture and politics is theatre? How much of YOU is theatre? Where does theatre end and reality begin? When are you acting and when not? Do you really want to know? Anthony Kubiak is currently Professor in the Drama Department. He taught previously at the University of South Florida and Harvard. He has published books on terrorism and theatre, and the theatricality of American culture. IMAGING/IMAGINING THE BODY Catherine Lord, Studio Art W 10:00-10:50am, ACT 3202 Course Code 87572 We'll focus on the way the human body is used in the contemporary visual arts, including photography, painting, film, video, and performance. We'll talk about artists who interest themselves in representations of disability, sexuality, race, masculinity and femininity. The emphasis will be upon visual literacy and visual thinking. Catherine Lord's most recent book The Summer of Her Baldness: A Cancer Improvisation. A writer and artist, she has published in Documents, Whitewalls, Art & Text, Afterimage, and X-tra, among others. Art of Collaboration and Consensus Decision Making Lisa Naugle, Dance Tu 2:00-2:50pm, MAB 302 Course Code 87575 Artistic collaboration requires successful communication where individuals work on steps and procedures that are small portions of a larger accomplishment. Brainstorming, creative thinking and problem solving make valuable skills and can be significant contributions to successful teamwork. The course will feature a map of the territiory of collaborative activity including the instructor's creative projects over the past 10 years with dancers, musicians, visual and new media artists. We will also look at the work of prominent artistic couples and other pathbreaking experiments (groups) fostered by collaboration and partnership. Student will be given tasks, scenarios and projects to encourage collaborations that serve to transform individual ideas into meaningful information and representations. Students will participate in various projects (small and large group) over several weeks through face to face and networked communication. They will engage in critical and creative thinking as they work together toward deeper levels of artistic awareness and capabilities in problem solving. Lisa Naugle is Associate Professor at University of California, Irvine, in the Department of Dance. She holds a Ph.D and MFA in dance from New York University. Her research and publications explore the convergence of contemporary performance and new media technologies. Her work has been performed in London, Amsterdam, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Budapest,Prague, Brazil, Spain, Korea, China and Canada, as well as throughout the USA. PAUL MERAGE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Mathematical Marketing Models Imran Currim, Marketing Every other Wednesday beginning Week 1, 9:00-10:50am, GSM 116 Course Code 87580 Developments in mathematical models of consumer perception, preference, and choice. Models of consumer perception are used to develop broad ideas for new products and services. In contrast, models of consumer preference are used to develop specific ideas for new products and services. While these models focus on new products or services models of consumer choice focus on developing ideas about how to market existing products or services. Imran Currim is a Chancellors Professor in Marketing. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University. Professor Currim's main research interest is assessing the impact of competitive product and service features and marketing efforts on consumer choice and market share. For this work he received the American Marketing Association William O'Dell Award for "most significant five year contribution to marketing theory, methodology, or practice". He has applied this work in companies such as AT&T, Baxter, the Orange County Register, St. Joseph's Hospital, Times Mirror, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Brothers. How to Make Smart Choices Robin Keller, Management Every other Monday beginning Week 1, 1:00-2:50pm, GSM 111 Course Code 87582 You will be facing many important and far-reaching decision situations in your personal and professional lives. In such situations substantial resources may need to be committed, many different stakeholder groups may be involved in or affected by the decisions that you make, and a variety of potential consequences may be at stake. This class will provide you with the tools to approach such situations with clarity and confidence and improve your decision making skills. Robin Keller earned her Ph.D and her MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her Key Research Areas include: expert in decision analysis, risk analysis, creative problem structuring and behavioral decision theory. Professor Keller was named an INFORMS Fellow on Oct. 25, 2004, for her contributions to operations research and management science. She has just completed a term as Past-President of the Decision Analysis Scoeity of INFORMS (the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences). The Financing and Delivery of Medical Services in the U.S. Paul Feldstein, Management Every other Tuesday 1:00-2:50pm, GSM 111 Course Code 87554 NOTE: This Professor Feldstein's seminar will meet Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 (January 10th, January 24th, February 7th, February 21st and March 7th). This course will examine how the US health care system has evolved over time. In addition the course will examine current concerns with the US health care system, such as the number of uninsured, rapidly rising health care costs, and the future insolvency of Medicare. Proposals for changing the financing and delivery of medical services will also be discussed. Paul J. Feldstein is Professor and Robert Gumbiner Chair in Health Care Management at The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine since 1987. His previous position was at the University of Michigan as Professor in both the Department of Economics and the School of Public Health. Before that, he was Director of the Division of Research at the American Hospital Association. Professor Feldstein received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Professor Feldstein has written six books and over 60 articles on health care. His Key Research Areas: Professor Feldstein is a nationally recognized authority on the economics of health care. Financial Engineering Philippe Jorion, Finance Every other Wednesday, 10:00-11:50am, GSM 111 Course Code 87558 NOTE: Students enrolled in this seminar must either be concurrently enrolled in Math 2A or have previously completed Math 2A with a grade of "C" or better. Financial engineering is the application of mathematical tools to finance. It is used to create new products and to manage the risks of financial institutions. These products include fixed-income securities, such as Treasury bonds, and derivatives, such as forward and option contracts. The course will illustrate these concepts using the case study of the Orange County bankruptcy. Because of the quantitative nature of the topic, the course is best suited to students intending to major in mathematics or engineering. Philippe Jorion is a Professor of Finance. He earned his Ph.D and his MBA from the University of Chicago Dr. Jorion's research is in the field of international finance and financial risk management. His recent research addresses the issues of forecasting risk and return in international financial markets. He has done extensive work in the area of financial risk management with derivative instruments, and is known as an expert on the topic of Value at Risk. Key Research Areas: Professor Jorion is an expert in international finance, exchange rates and risk management. SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES Manga, Anime, Art: Japanese Visual Cultures in Global Context Jonathan M. Hall, Comparative Literature W 3:00-3:50pm, Mesa Court Housing Complex, Mesa Activity Center Classroom Course Code 87581 NOTE: This seminar will be held in the Mesa Court Housing. It will be held in the Mesa Activity Center Classroom. Please be aware that your travel time will be greater than 10 minutes if you are coming from Central Campus. For a map of Mesa Court, please go to http://www.housing.uci.edu/documents/mcmap.pdf. Why are Japanese manga and anime being exhibited in art museums in New York and London? In this Freshman Seminar, we set as our objective a deeper understanding of the interplay between the global contemporary art scene and Japan's rich tradition of manga and anime. We begin the seminar by tracing the emergence of different styles of comics and cartoons in postwar Japan, looking at the importance of manga as a proletarian form of popular entertainment. After tracing the transformation of manga into a corporatized, national industry, we then examine the emergence of anime as a dominant cultural force in late twentieth-century Japan. At the end of the seminar, we approach the influence of anime and manga on art both in Japan and in California. The seminar might appeal to long-time manga and anime fans who want a fresh perspective on the texts they love as well as to students who know little about these omnipresent Japanese genres. Jonathan Hall is an Assistant Professor in Comparative Literature and Film & Media Studies, but he also teach courses in East Asian Languages & Literatures and Queer Studies. His research focuses on fantasy and politics in postwar Japanese fiction and film. He is not an anime "otaku" (do you know what that means?), but he loves pulling apart the images and stories that make up the genre. Jewish writers from Latin America Jacobo Sefami, Spanish Tu 1:00-1:50pm, HH 242 Course Code 87583 It presents a different view of Latin America, challenging stereotypes, and offering different forms of hybridity, adding Jewish motifs to the representations of multicultural societies. Professor Sefam’ is the author or editor of several books of literary criticism on Latin American poetry. He has also published a novel about mourning in the context of the Syrian Jewish community in Mexico City. Blood and Sand: the Roman Games Cristiana Sogno, Classics Th 12:00-12:50pm, HOB 2 108 Course Code 87584 As the success of the movie "Gladiator" shows, Roman games continue to fascinate modern audiences. This seminar offers a historical overview of the games, athletes (gladiators and charioteers), buildings (circus and amphitheater), and provides an introduction to Roman culture and mentality. Special attention will be devoted to the city of Rome. Cristiana Sogno is Assistant Professor of Classics. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Turin and her Ph.D. from Yale. Her research focuses on the history and literature of the Late Roman Empire. Are we what we eat? Understanding meanings behind food consumption Yong Chen, History Th 11:00-11:50am, KH 126 Course Code 87566 We will use different kinds of sources, including our own experiences to understand the social meanings of the food we consume. We will use lots of examples from Southern Caliofornia. Yong Chen received his Ph.D. from Cornell. He enjoys eating and cooking. Until this summer, he ran an exhibit on Chinese restaurants in the US in New York City. Television Culture and the Real O.C.: Gender in "Arrested Development," "Laguna Beach," and "The O.C." Lara Deeb, Women's Studies M 12:00-12:50pm, KH 374 Course Code 87567 UCI's home, Orange County (aka "the O.C.") has recently taken center stage in a number of hit television series. How does the image of the O.C. on T.V. compare to the real O.C. around our campus? How is the O.C. featured in these series? In this seminar, we will take a critical look at the ways that gender, race, sexuality, and class connect up with location and place in three of these series: "Arrested Development," "Laguna Beach," and "The O.C." Lara Deeb is Assistant Professor of Women's Studies at UCI, and a Harvard Academy scholar. She is trained as a cultural anthropologist, focusing on gender and religion in the modern world. The Gift and the Art of Giving Anna Gonosova, Art History Th 3:00-3:50pm, HIB 90 Course Code 87555 Why do we give gifts and what kinds of gifts do we give? Gift giving is actually a complex, important, and very ancient form of exchange between individuals and social groups. This seminar will examine the phenomenon of gift giving in weekly discussions of historical and symbolic instances, as presented in written sources, art, literature, and as practiced today. Anna Gonosova is Associate Professor of Late Roman, Byzantine and Medieval art in the Department of Art History. She has been studying the impact of decorative art, especially floor mosaics and textiles, on the meaning of Late Roman and Early Byzantine built environment. (Multi-)Literacies and Fundamentals of Scholarship, or How to Succeed in College by Really Trying Glenn Levine, German M 1:00-1:50pm, KH 400D Course Code 87561 You've gotten into UCI (congratulations!), and now you sit attentively in seminars and lectures designed to mediate copious amounts of information on diverse topics. These courses should help you learn to read and think about texts, research and write papers, process scientific information, conduct experiments, make public presentations, etc.: all components of a well-rounded education. But sometimes the "big picture" never comes into focus, and a lot of what is learned remains a blur, just a set of "requirements" toward a degree. To put it bluntly: sometimes even college graduates never learn a lot of what we (seek to) train them for: to read, write and think well. In this seminar we will discuss this dilemma, with the goal of helping you bring your own college career into focus at the outset, and of giving you the tools to reflect critically on your education. At the heart of it we'll study the concept of literacy, which is not only a matter of reading and writing, but of developing the ability to successfully negotiate and engage with the multiplicity of communications channels and media in today's world. In the process we'll critically examine the U.S.-university education overall, and our complex roles in it. Glenn Levine is an Associate Professor of German. He is a linguist with publications and research projects in bilingualism, adult second-language acquisition, critical pedagogy, and Yiddish. As the father of four children ranging from kindergarten to college age, he has a keen personal interest in critically examining all aspects of education in the U.S. Heavy Metal Islam: The Strange Tale of Globalization in the Muslim World Mark Levine, History Tu 10:00-10:50am, HH 232 Course Code 87571 This seminar explores how globalization emerged and spread across one very important region of the world: the Middle East and North Africa. By using the metaphor of music--and particularly western rock, rap and other forms that we don't normally associate with Muslim culture--and discovering how prevalent they are in fact, we can gain insight into how we see Muslims, they see us, and what the roots and solutions to the conflicts between the Western and Muslim worlds are. Mark LeVine is Assoc. Professor of Modern Middle Eastern history, culture and Islamic studies and author of half a dozen books, and Grammy award winner for his work with Muslim and American hiphop and metal artists. The Spanish Language Worldwide Armin Schwegler, Spanish F 3:00-3:50pm, HH 251 Course Code 87577 This "fun course" studies the history and contemporary usage of Spanish worldwide. Special emphasis is placed on Latin American dialect varieties (including Mexican, Cuban, Argentinean, Colombian, and USA Spanish). By taking this course students will gain a better appreciation for (1) how and why a once very marginal tongue has become one of the world's major languages, (2) the extent to which Spanish dialects differ today, and (3) how Spanish evolved from Roman times into what it is today. No prior knowledge of spoken or written Spanish required. Born in Switzerland and resident of the USA since 1975, Professor Schwegler has learned Spanish and about 10 other languages. His research on the Spanish language and its dialects have taken him to virtually every corner of Latin America (he often does field work in remote jungles in South America). The author of over 40 scholarly articles and several books, he is currently writing a monograph about PALO MONTE, an Afro-Cuban ritual language used in voodoo-like ceremonies. Prof. Schwegler has been a guest professor at several universities in Europe and the United States, and recently spent 2 years in Costa Rica as Director of UC's Education Abroad Program. In the fall of 2002, he taught at the University of Havana and did field work in Cuba for his new book. DONALD BREN SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCES Future Impacts of Biological and Computer Science Technologies Pierre Baldi, Information and Computer Science M 1:00-1:50pm, Mesa Court Housing Complex, Mesa Activity Center Classroom Course Code 87551 NOTE: This seminar will be held in the Mesa Court Housing. It will be held in the Mesa Activity Center Classroom. Please be aware that your travel time will be greater than 10 minutes if you are coming from Central Campus. For a map of Mesa Court, please go to http://www.housing.uci.edu/documents/mcmap.pdf. This seminar will examine some of the current trends in biological and computer sciences and technologies and extrapolate them into the future. Specific topics will be selected depending on student interest. Examples of possible topics of discussion: (a) artifical intelligence; (b) the Internet; (c) embryonic stem cells; (d) human cloning; (e) nanotechnology; (f) bioethics. Pierre Baldi is a professor in the School of Information and Computer Sciences, in the Department of Biological Chemistry (College of Medicine), and the founder and director of the UCI Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics. Dr. Baldi received his PhD in Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1986. Dr. Baldi main areas of research are computational biology, bionformatics, data mining, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. He is the author of over 100 scientific articles and several books. Beyond his scientific interests, Dr. Baldi has long-standing interests in more philosophical issues related to bioethics and what it means to be human in light of the current technological revolution in biology and computers, as exemplified by the Human Genome Project and the Internet. He is the author of a trade book on these topics: The Shattered Self--The End of Natural Evolution (MIT Press). Cyber-Puzzlers Michael Goodrich, Information and Computer Science M 11:00-11:50am, SSL 122 Course Code 87569 Through in-class discussions and brain-storming sessions, this course will study cyber-puzzlers and brain teasers, which are often used during job interviews as a test of Mathematical and Computational thinking. Special attention will be paid to puzzlers that have a relationship to computer science topics. Problem solutions will need only high school mathematics and logic. Professor Goodrich's research is directed at the design of high performance algorithms and data structures for solving large-scale problems motivated from information assurance and security, the Internet, information visualization, and geometric computing. He is also interested in computer science education. He received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1987. Chaos and Scientific Computing Wayne Hayes, Information and Computer Science Tu 11:00-11:50am, SSL 105 Course Code 87556 Modern physical scientists such as astronomers, physicists, chemists, and even mathematicians, use computers every day to learn about the world. Computers are used to analyze data, as in the case of the Human Genome Project. Computers can be used to simulate physical systems, such as galaxies. We will look into how computers can be reliably used in such situations, as well as when computers should NOT be used and some classic examples where computers have contributed to confusion and errors. Professor Hayes began his career in scientific computing in high school, when he wrote a program on his home computer to "fly" through a galaxy. His fascination with simulating and analyzing galaxies on the computer continue to this day, and his current research focuses on whether galaxy simulations as performed by astronomers are reliable. Puzzlers for Computer Scientists Dan Hirschberg, Information and Computer Science M 10:00-10:50am, CS 432 Course Code 87557 This seminar will explore problem solving and critical thinking through the study of puzzlers and brain teasers, focusing on problems related to computer science. Problem solutions will need only high school mathematics and logic. Dan Hirschberg received his PhD from Princeton University. He was a member of the faculty at Rice University before coming to UC Irvine. He holds a joint faculty appointment in the departments of Computer Science and EECS. His research expertise is in the area of design and analysis of algorithms. SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES Science of Superheroes Michael Dennin, Physics W 10:00-10:50am, FRH 2111 Course Code 87568 Have you ever wondered if Superman could really bend steel bars? Would a "gamma ray" accident turn you into the Hulk? What is a "spidey-sense"? And just who did think of all these superheroes and their powers? In this seminar, we discuss the science (or lack of science) behind many of the most famous superheroes. Even more amazing, we will discuss what kind of superheroes might be imagined using our current scientific understanding. He has been a Physics Professor here at UCI for roughly 9 years. His research interests include understanding how foam and sand flow and how proteins interact with cell membranes. Professor Dennin has given a number of talks to undergraduates on the Physics of Superman, and this seminar provides the opportunity to expand to other superheroes! Physics of the Universe David Kirkby, Physics M 10:00-10:50am, FRH 4135 Course Code 87570 What is the universe made of and what holds it together? Recent observations have forced us to completely rethink our answers to these questions. We will discuss the big bang, inflation, antimatter, and the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that appear to make up most of the universe. David Kirkby is an experimental particle physicist who is currently investigating subtle differences between matter and antimatter, which may shed some light on why there appears to be essentially no antimatter in the universe today. For more info, see http://positron.ps.uci.edu/~dkirkby/. Taxi Driver's Geometry Zhiqin Lu, Mathematics Every other Monday, PSCB 220 Course Code 87573 NOTE: This seminar will only meet weeks 2-6 (January 18th, January 25th February 1st, February 8th and February 15th). We will show that non-Euclidean geometry is not mysterious. It exists in our everyday life. The major topic is the convexity of the non-Euclidean distance. Zhiqin Lu is an Associate Professor in Mathematics. He joined UCI in 2000. His field is differential geometry. He has 14 publication in reseach journals. He was an Alfred Sloan fellow 2003-2005. Currently, he has a NSF five year grant (2004-2009) that contains an educational component. Thinking Quantum-Mechanically (A guide to understanding the subatomic world) Meinhard Mayer, Physics M 5:00-5:50pm, PSCB 230 Course Code 87574 The discovery of quantum theory was a major revolution in our understanding of the world. I will try to introduce this new way of thinking about our world with a minimum of mathematics, and show how quantum theory (and relativity) led to an understanding of the structure of atoms, nuclei, down to quarks and gluons, and how quantum phenomena made modern technology possible. Meinhard Mayer received his Ph D from the University of Bucharest in 1957(where he taught from 1949 to 1961). He spent one year as a Senior researcher at the Joint Institute for Nuclear research (ner Mosco) in 1957-58. After academic appointments at Brandei University and Indiana University (1962-1966), he joined UCI in 1966 as a professor of Physics and Mathematics. He retired in 1994. He had visiting appointments at many American and foreign Universities. His main research interests are in the mathematical aspects of elementary particle theory, particularly geometric aspects of gauge theories. He is the author of 5 books and many scientific papers. Cryptanalyze This Bernard Russo, Mathematics Th 11:00-11:50am, Mesa Court Housing Complex, Mesa Activity Center Classroom Course Code 87563 NOTE: This seminar will be held in the Mesa Court Housing. It will be held in the Mesa Activity Center Classroom. Please be aware that your travel time will be greater than 10 minutes if you are coming from Central Campus. For a map of Mesa Court, please go to http://www.housing.uci.edu/documents/mcmap.pdf. This seminar offers a layman's peek into the world of cryptography and codes, from ancient texts through computer encryption. Explanations of complex algorithms will be done by cutting through the arcane mathematical details without oversimplifying. Ever since the first word was written, humans have written coded messages to each other. This compelling history is woven through with stories of how codes and ciphers have played a vital role in warfare, politics, and royal intrigue. The seminar will contain many fascinating accounts of code-breaking in action, from its use in unmasking the Man in the Iron Mask and the defeat of the Nazis to the breaking of a modern cipher system by a world-wide army of amateurs in 1994. It will include the most recent developments, such as quantum cryptology and the thorny civil liberties issues raised by the advent of very secure cipher systems over the Internet. Bernanrd Russo has been a UCI faculty member since 1965. He served as Chair of Mathematics Department from 2001-2004. He was the Associate Secretary of American Mathematical Society, 1998-2002. He has previously taught Freshman seminars (Winter 2005). Monte Carlo Methods in the Analysis of Clinical Trials Howard Tucker, Mathematics M 4:00-4:50pm, HH 231 Course Code 87578 Uses of computer simulation methods to determine effectiveness of new treatments in biomedical research and development. Common sense statistical analyses of experimental data. In brief, Howard Tucker received his Ph.D. in mathematics at U.C. Berkeley in 1955. He has taught at University of Oregon and Rutgers University, but for the last 49 years he have been in the U.C. system, starting as Assistant Professor of Mathematics at UCR in 1956, becoming Professor in 1967, and transfering to UCI in 1968. Over the years Professor Tucker has been involved in creating a statistics program for the department of mathematics and consulting for research personnel on campus and in industry. He has authored and coauthored a significant number of research papers in basic theory of statistical inference. (See my C.V.) He feels that in a small conversational setting, he can supply an interesting and useful experience for any freshman who is interested in listening and in participating. More complete information is available in his curriculum vitae in his web page: More complete information is available in his curriculum vitae in his web page: http://www.math.uci.edu/~htucker. Computational simulations in physics and materials sciences studies. Ruqian Wu, Physics F 10:00-10:50am, FRH 2111 Course Code 87579 In the design and search for advanced materials, drugs and catalysts, theoretical/computational approaches have the promise to play an essential role in the optimization of constituents, atomistic arrangements, and conditions of synthesis. Particularly, density functional approaches, award the Nobel Prize in 1998, become powerful tools for R&D in semiconductor, magnetic storage, communication, petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In this seminar, I will describe the principles, tools and applications of computational simulations in studies of modern science. Prof. Wu received Ph. D in solid state physics from Chinese Academy of Science in 1989. He is currently Professor of Physics in UCI and editor of Physics Letters A. His research is mainly on studing materials properties through computations simulations. He has published 130 papers in leading international Journals and 10 book chapters. SCHOOL OF SOCIAL ECOLOGY Images of Law in Popular Culture Susan Coutin, Criminology, Law & Society Tu 2:00-2:50pm, SE2 2372 Course Code 87553 This one-unit seminar will explore images of law in popular culture. Students will read academic articles about understandings of law (what is sometimes referred to as "legal culture") in the United States, and then will use the seminar as an opportunity to examine ways that law is depicted in popular media (e.g., films, television, print media). Students' will also have the opportunity to compare these depictions to individuals' accounts of their own legal experiences. Susan Bibler Coutin holds a Ph.D. in sociocultural anthropology and is associate professor in the Department of Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of California, Irvine. Global Environmental Problems: What Role for Economics? Jean-Daniel Saphores, Planning, Policy and Design W 2:00-2:50pm, HH 230 Course Code 87576 The purpose of this seminar is to provide an overview of the role economics could play in tackling some regional and global environmental problems. We will examine the management of natural resources (such as fisheries and forests), the shortages of freshwater in many parts of the world, the impacts of urbanization, the loss of biodiversity, and global warming. Although we will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, we will focus on some economic concepts to explore the advantages and the drawbacks of economic solutions. The course will rely on several videos, on scientific papers, and on material available on the Internet. Jean-Daniel Saphores holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, with a specialization in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics, and an MA in Economics, both from Cornell University.He also has a civil engineering background with a degree from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (Paris, France), an MS in Geotechnical Engineering from University of Colorado at Boulder, and an MS in Environmental Systems from Cornell University. The American Dream Rodolfo Torres, Planning, Policy and Design M 7:00-7:50pm, SST 318 Course Code 87564 Just what is the American Dream? Through the use of films, and historical and sociological writings the illusory idea of the "American Dream" will be the subject of interrogation. Learn about the social movements and the men and women who shaped the "American Dream," how they affected both society as a whole and the dreams we hold for a democratic future. Rodolfo D. Torres was born and raised in East Los Angeles and attended Lincoln High School. He holds a BA from UC Irivne and Ph.D from Claremont Graduate School. Professor Torres teaches urban planning, public policy, and comparative ethnic studies. SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES ART AND VISION Charles Chubb, Psycology Tu 3:00-3:50pm, TBA Course Code 87552 How do paintings and sculptures achieve their power? What is it about the workings of the eye and the brain that lets a painting such as Picasso's Guernica grip one's heart. What are the perceptual roots of balance and dynamism in works of art? What makes something whole for vision? What is a visual part? What are the visual meanings of brightness, of color, of shape? How is portraiture related to face perception? We will explore these and other questions in informal discussions, looking at paintings and sculptures for insight and inspiration as we go. Charles Chubb is a professor in the Cognitive Sciences Department. His primary research interests are in the areas of human visual perception and visual-motor interaction. Fast Food Society: Life Under Golden Arches Judith Treas, Sociology Tu 11:00-11:50am, Middle Earth Housing Complex, Harrowdale Study Room Course Code 87565 NOTE: This seminar will be held in Middle Earth Housing. It will be held in the Harrowdale Study Room. Please be aware that your travel time will be greater than 10 minutes if you are coming from Mesa Court or the School of the Arts. For a map of Middle Earth, please go to http://www.housing.uci.edu/documents/memap.pdf. Americans spend more than a billion dollars on fast food each year. Launched in Southern California half a century ago, the fast food industry now stands for the best and worst of American civilization. Our seminar ponders how McDonald's pioneering principles of efficiency, predictability, and control have spread to religion, health care, and even higher education. Discover why Golden Arches cast such a long shadow over the lives of 3.5 million fast food workers, the health of consumers, and the cultures of the globe. Judith Treas is Professor of Sociology and Director of the interdisciplinary M.A. Program in Demographic and Social Analysis at UCI. She teaches courses on American society, aging, families, and the life course. Her current research examines how couples around the world decide how housework will be shared. Another project deals with the lives of the .5 (point-five) generation of immigrants--older people who follow their children to the U.S. |
| Freshman Seminar Program 256 Aldrich Hall Irvine, CA 92697-5675 Phone (949) 824-6987 Fax (949) 824-3469 A Division of Undergraduate Education Program © 2006-2008 The Regents of the University of California All Rights Reserved |
